Cushion-spring-assembling machine



Nov. 13 1923.. 11,473,989

7 J. T. HOLTFOTH CUSHION SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Fil-e May 15. 1922 7Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOEYS Nov. 13 1923o J T. HOLTFOTH CUSHION SPRINGASSEMBLING MACHINE 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW r nnu Filed May 15 IMFllllll 3%. mm Q Q b f m/ WM M m .w, Q

NOV. 13, 1923. 7 3

J. T. HOLTFOTH CUSHION SPRING ASSEMBLING momma il y 15 1922 7Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Jove/W??? z'fia/ffaffi BiW/MW A TTORN NOV; 13,11923. 11,473,989

J. T. HOLTFOTH CUSHION SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1922 7Sheets-Shet 4 A TTORNEKS Nov. 13 1923. I 11,473,989

J. T. HOLTFOTH CUSHION SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed y 15, 1922 '7Sheets-Sheet 6 0 I L I" w 3 .1 I Q Q 3 Q) INVENTOR. Jaw/7m? fflo/ffof/iATTORNEY Nov. 13 1923. 11,473,989

J. T. HOLTFOTH CUSHION SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed y 15, 1922 '7Sheets-Sheet '7 ATTORNEYS Joacnna r. non-morn, or menmnn rann, iticmoan,nssienon TO L. a. voune mnusmnms, mconronamnn, or DETROIT, monrean.

' CUSHION-SPRING-ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

Application filed May 15,

of the helically coiled type in supporting strips of U-cross sectionthereby'forming spring units adapted to be assembled in cushionstructures such as those of automobile seats, bed springs and the like.

Second, to provide a machine of the class described for assemblingsprings in which all of the springs in the unit are effectively securedto the end supporting strips.

Third,.to provide'a machine of the class described having theseadvantages which is capable of a large output with a comparatively smallamount of labor or effort on the part ofthe operator.

Fourth, to provide a structure of the class described whlch is simple instructure and at the same time very strong and durable.

Further objects, and objects pertaining to details and economies ofconstruction and operation will definitely appear from the detaileddescription to follow.

I QCCOITIPIISh thG objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is fullyillustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

Fig. I is a front elevation of my improved machine. an new with asenesof spring assemblin Fig. II is a springs and their supports in position,the

jaws being open to receive them, an assembling .unit being also shown inposition in the conforming mechanism.

Fig. III is an enlarged detail vertical section on a line correspondingto line 33 of Fig. I showing details of the driving and operatingmechanism.

Fig. 1v is an enlarged detail View paI'-.

1922. Serial No. 561,192.

' tially in longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 ofFig. I.

i Fig. V is an enlarged detail view partially in vertical section on aline corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. I showing details of the cflosingjaws and the actu'ating means there- *Fig. VI is a fragmentary viewcorrespond:

ing to that of Fig. V with the jaws in their closed osition.

Fig. II is a detail vertical section showing the manner of clamping thesupporting strips upon the springs.

Fig. VIII is a plan view of one of the assembled units, the springsbeing partially broken away'and the conformed position of the ends ofthe units being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. IX is a detail plan view of the left hand conforming mechanism, theparts being shown in normal position.

Fi X is a view corresponding to that of Fig. IX with the parts inactuated position.

Fig. XI is a detail vertical section on a ,line corresponding to line11-11 of Fig. I

showing details of the unit conforming mechanism, the parts being shownin their initial position, or in the position of Fig. IX. I

[to that of Fig. XIII'showing the parts in actuated osition. Fig. X is aperspective view of one of the closing or upsetting jaws.

In the drawing the sectional views are taken looking in the direction ofthe little arrows at the ends of the section lines and similar numeralsof reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, I provide a frame 1. comprising suitableuprights and cross pieces adapted to support the operating mechanism andthe bed 2. The bed 2 has upper jaws 3 mounted thereon and aswinging'head 4i carrying the upper jaws 5. The head 4 is mounted onjournals 6 and is provided with ca forwardly projecting arm 7 1connected by the link 8 to the actuating lever 9. The lever 9 is pivotedat 10 at the rear of the machine and is provided with a footpiece 11 forconvenience in operation.

The upper jaws 3 and 5 face downwardly and are provided with face or dieplates 12 removably secured thereto as by the screws 13. The jaws 3 and5 are adjustably supported so as that they may be spaced according tothe spacing desired for the springs. The bed 2 has longitudinal grooves14 therein adapted to receive the headsof the jaw securing bolts 14.When the nuts 15 are loosened the bolts, with the jaws, may be adjustedlaterally, thereby permitting the desired spacing.

. The lower movable jaws 16 are slidahly mounted in the bed for verticalmovement. suitable supporting ways being provided therefor. These jaws16 carry die or face plates .17 corresponding to the face plates 12, theplates 17 being secured'to the jaws 16 by means of the clamping plates18. Rear jaws 19 coacting with the jaws 5 are provided with face or dieplates 17 secured by the clamping plates 18 as described.

The jaws 16 and 19 are supported and actuated by'the links designatedgenerally by the numeral 20. These links are made up.of sectionsincluding threaded parts 21 and the tubular parts 22 which telescopewith the upper parts 23 of the links. Coiled springs 24 .are arrangedwithin the tubular parts to thrown upwardly or disengaged the springs Iyieldingly support the parts 23.

engage the clutch member 33 w ich is splined to the shaft. A clutchrelease lever 34 is mounted on the rockshaft 35 and provided with acammed end 36 adapted to en.- gage the collar 37 on the clutch memberand 1 release it, and also hold it normally in-disen' gaged position.\Vhen this releasing lever is 38 engage the clutch (see Figs. III andIV). A spring 39 connected to the arm 40 on the frame and to the clutchreleasing lever holds the lever normally in clutch releasing tion. Apawl 41 on the actuating ever 9 is adapted to disengage the clutch lever34 when the actuating lever is pressed downwardly. The coiled spring '42holds the pawl in engaging position. The pawl 41 has a rounded end 43while the clutch lever has a coacting rounded surface 44' so that theclutch lever is disengaged and the pawl passes beyond the same on theactuation of the lever 9. This allows the lever 34 to rey ad? justingthe threaded parts 21 the tension of positurn to its clutch releasingposition even though the footpiece 9 be held down by the operator. Asthe shaft 30 revolves the eccentric 28, acting upon the rollers 27 and,through them, upon the thrust bar, actuates the movable jaws. However.before this action takes place the movable head 4 has been swungforwardly tobring the parts into proper'assembled relation.

The supporting strips 45 are laid upon the lower jaws facing inwardly,these strips beingof U-cross section asshown in Fig. V. The bottom jawsare provided with locating pins 46 while the upper jaws have holes 47adapted to receive these pins 46 when the jaws are closed. The coiledsprings 48 are positioned upon the spring supporting plates 49 which areprovided with locating pins 50 adapted to engage the bottom coils ofvthe springs. These spring supporting plates are adjustably 'mounted onthe plate bar 51 havinga longitudinal slot 52 therein adapted to receivethe bolts 53. This permits the adjustment of the spring supportingplates to correspond with the jaws, whereby the machine may be adaptedto different spacing.

In the use of the machine the strips 45 are first placed in position.The springs are then placed with their coils engaged with the frontstrip. \Vhen the springs are all located the operator presses downwardlyupon the lever 11 which swings the head 4 forwardly, bringing the rearstrip over the bottom coils as shown by dotted lines in Fig. V. Theclutch is also engaged as de-' scribed, the engagement of the clutch andactuation of the thrust timed so that the jaws 6 and 19 are not actuateduntil after the rear strip has been engaged with the springs, theclosing of the jaws upsetting or. closing the strips upon the springs asshown in Fig. VII. A comr being properly plete assembled unit isillustrated in Fig.

VIII. Upon the releasing of the lever 11 the head 4 swings back toinitial position and the clutch is automatically released as described.leaving the jaws open. The'jaw or die plates are preferablymade'reversible which materially increases the. life or use thereof.

It is desired that ends of certain of the spring units should be curvedas shown by dotted lines in Fig. VIII and by full lines in Fig. X, suchspring units being used, for

instance, at the ends of cushions where curved corners are provided. Tofacilitate the conforming of these units as thus indicated, I provide apair of spaced bed plates 54 on which the spring units may be. placed asshown in Fig. II. At the outer end of each bed plate is mounted a slide55 carrying the form blocks56 having curved faces 57. The bed plates 54are provided with form blocks58 havingcurved faces 59 and the adjustablerest 60 and form block 61; The

tit)

- able time.

slides have adjustable thrust members 62.

With the parts in their initial position as shown in Fig. IX theassembled spring unit may be laid upon the bed plates 54, the formblocks and rests being arranged so that the units may be freelypositioned. The slides 55 are actuated by the lever 63 pivoted at (it tobe actuated by the cam on the shaft 66. The shaft 66 is connected to theshaft 30 by means of the sprocket chain 67 and suitable sprocket wheels.As the shaft 66 revolves,

the cam 65 actuates the slide carrying the form-block 56 into engagementwith the end of the inner spring supporting strip and carrying thespring supporting strip against the form block 61 mounted o the table,and the rest 60, and also carrying the outer strip against the curvedform block 58. 'The thrust member 62 engages the inner side of the outerstrip bending it around the form block 58. m

With the parts thus arranged both ends of the assembled unit are bent orconformed as may be desired. The levers 63 are held yieldingly againstthe cam 65 by means of the coiled springs 63.

To automatically eject the contormei'l spring units I provide a-pair ofelevating members 68 which are adapted to lift the units above the formblocks 58 as shown in Fig. XIV. These elevating members 68 are providedwith shanks 69 projecting downwith the cams 70 on the shaft 66, theelevating members 68 normally resting in groovelikc recesses in the bedpieces. The completcd units are ejected or thrown from the elevatingmembers by means of the ejector levers 71 which are pivotedat 72 andactuated by the spring 73. The cam 74' on the shaft 66 retracts theseejector levers.

With the parts thus arranged, when the bending operation has beencompleted, the members 68 are actuated to raise the spring units abovethe form blocks and the ejector is actuated to throw off or eject thecompletcd unit as shown in Fig. XIV. I

13y the aid of my improved spring assembling machine the spring unitsmay be rapidly assembled and the strips are effectively clamped upon thesprings; To do this work livhand requires heavy labor ant consider- Theassembled units may be .ilaced by the operator in the position to havethe ends conformed and the conforming or bending is entirely automatic.

I have illustrated and describedany improvements in an embodiment whichI have tempted to illustrate or' describe various modifications instructural details which might be desirable for different classes orkinds of work as I believe the disclosure made will enablethose skilledin the art to which my invention relates to embody or adapt theimprovements as may be desired.

- Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a structure of the class described. the combination with theframe, of a bed mounted thereon, a swinging head mounted on said bed,sets of relatively fixed upper jaws adjustably mounted on said bed and,on said 'head. a springsupporting bar disposed in a plane between saidsets of jaws, spring supporting plates adjustably mounted on said bar,sets of lower jaws movably mounted on said bed and head to coact withsaid' upper jaws, actuating links for said c 'thereon towards the jawsmounted on said bed, and clutch control means operatively associatedwith said actuating lever- 2. In a structure of the class described, thecombination with the frame, of a bed mounted thereon, a swinging headmounted on said bed. sets of relatively fixed upper jaws mounted on saidbed and on said head, a spring supporting bar disposed in a planebetween said sets of jaws. spring wardly through the bed members 54 tocoact I supporting'plates mounted on said bar, sets of lower jawsmovably mounted on said bed' and head to coact with said upper jaws,actuating links for said lower jaws. a thrust bar on'which said linksare pivotally mounted. a driving shaft provided with actuatingeccentrics for said thrust bar, driving means for said shaft including aclutch, an actuating'lever, connections therefor to said head wherebythe head is actuated to move the jaws mounted thereon towards the jawsmounted on said bed, and clutch cont-rol means operatively associatedwith said actuating lever.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination with theframe, of a bed mounted thereon, a swinging head mounted on said bed,sets of relatively fixed upper jaws mounted on said bed and on saidhead, a spring supporting bar disposed in a plane between said sets ofjaws, spring supporting plates mounted on said bar, sets of lower awsmovably mounted on said bed and head to coact with said upper jaws,adjustable actuatingilinks for said lower jaws including thrust springs,a thrust bar on which said links are pivotally mounted, a driving shaftprovided with actuating eccentrics for said thrust bar, driving meansfor said shaft including a clutch, an actuating lever,

said bed, and clutch control means operatively associated with saidactuating lever.

I 4. In a structure of the class described, the combination with theframe, of a bed mounted thereon, a swinging head mounted on said bed.sets of relatively fixed upper jaws-adjustably mounted on said bed andon said head, a spring supporting bar disposed in av plane between saidsets of jaws, spring supporting plates adjustbly mounted on said bar,sets of lower jaws movably mounted on said bed and head to react withsaid upper jaws, actuating links for said lower jaws including thrustsprings. a thrust bar on which said links are pivotally mounted, andmeans for actuating said head and said bar timed so that the head isactuated prior to the actuating ot the said bar.

In a structure of the class described. the combination with the frame.of a bed mounted thereon, a swinging head mounted on said bed. sets ofrelatively fixed upper jaws mounted on said bed and on said head.:tspring suporting bar disposed in a'plane between said sets of jaws,spring supporting plates mounted on said bar, sets of lower jaws movablymounted on said bed and head to coact wit-h said upper jaws, actuatinglinks for said lower jaws including thrust springs, a thrust bar onwhich said links are pivotally mounted, and means for actuating saidhead and said bar timed so that the head is acuated prior to theactuating of the said bar.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination with theframe, of a bed mounted thereon, a swinging head mounted on said bed.sets of relatively fixed upper jaws mounted on said bed and on saidhead, a spring supporting bar disposed in a plane between said sets ofjaws, spring supporting plates mounted on said bar, sets of lower jawsmovably mounted on said bed and head to coact with said upper jaws,adjustable actuating links for said lower jaws,

a thrust bar on which said links are pivotally mounted. and means foractuating said head and said bar timed so .that the head is actuatedprior to the actuating of thesaid bar;

7. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a bed, ahead movable laterally relative thereto, jrelatively fixed upper jawsadjustably mounted on said; head and bed, means for supporting springsbetween said sets of jaws including adjustable spring supporting plates,lower jaws movably mounted on said bed and head to eoaot with said upperjaws, actuating means for said lower jaws, and actuating means for saidhead.

8. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a bed, ahead movable laterally relative thereto, relatively fixed upper jawsmounted on said head and bed,

means for supporting springs between said sets of jaws, lower jawsmovably mounted on said bed and head to coact with said upper jaws,actuating means'for said lower jaws. and actuating means for said head.

9. In a structure of'the class described, the combination of a bed, ahead movable laterally relative thereto, relatively fixed upper jawsmounted on said head and bed, means for supporting springs between saidsets of jaws, lower jaws movably mounted on said bed and head to coactwith said upper jaws, actuating means for said lower jmvsincludingthrust springs, and actuating means for said head;

10. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a bed, ahead movable laterally relative thereto, relatively fixed upper jawsmounted on said head and bed, means for supporting springs between saidsets of jaws, lower jaws movably mounted on said bed and head to coactwith said upper jaws, actuating means for said lower jaws includingthrust springs, actuating means for said head, and operating connectionsfor said actuating means whereby the head is actuatedprior to theactuation of said movable jaws.

11. In a structure of the class described,

the combination of coacting jaws, at least .5

one jaw of each pair being movable relative to the other and one pair ofjaws being movable to and from the other pair, a spring supporting meansdisposed between the pairs ofjaws whereby the spring supporting stripsmay be adjusted to the coils of the springs by the movement of the pairsof jaws, and operating connections whereby the movable pair of jaws isactuated prior-to the closing of the jaws, for the purpose specified.

12. In a structure of the class described, the combination of coactingjaws, at least one jaw of each pair being movable relative to the otherand-one pair of jaws being movable to and from the other pair, a springsupporting means disposed between the pairs of jaws whereoy the springsupporting strips may be adjusted to the coils of the springs by themovement of the pairs of jaws toward each other, and means for closingthe jaws, for the purpose specified.

13. In a structure of the class described, the combination of apair ofspaced bedplates provided with outer forming blocks having curved facesadapted to court with the outer side of the outer spring unit strip andwith rest members adapted to coact with the inner side of the innerspring unit strip, forming slides mounted on said bedplates toreciprocate transversely of the spring units and having forming blockswith curved faces mounted on their inner ends to coact with the outerside of the inner spring unit strlps, said slides also having thrustmembers mounted thereon to engage the inner side ofthe outer spring unitstrips adjacent the ends thereof, levers for reciprocating said formingslides, elevating members mounted on said bedplates adapted whenactuated to raise the spring unit above said outer forming blocks, anejector lever 7 adapted to push the units from the sa d elevatingmembers, ashaft disposed below said bed plates, and cams on said shaftfor actuating said slide levers, said elevating members and said ejectorlevers successively.

14:- In a structure of. the class described, the combination of a pairof spaced bed plates provided with outer forming blocks havingcurvedfaces adapted to coact with the outer side of the outer spring unitstrip and with rest members adapted to coact with the inner side of theinner-spring unit strip, forming slides mounted on said bedplates toreciprocate transversely of the spring units and having formlng blockswith curved faces mounted on their inner ends to coact with the outerside of the inner spring unit strips, said slides also having thrustmembers mounted. thereon to engage the inner side of the outer springunit strips adjacent the ends' thereof, and meansfor reciprocating saidforming slides.

' 15. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a pairof spaced bed plates provided with outer forming blocks having curvedfaces adapted to coact with the outer side of the outer spring unitstripand with adjustable rest members adapted to coact with the inner side ofthe inner spring unit strip, forming slides mounted on. said bedplatesto reciprocate .transversely of-the spring units an having formingblocks with curved faces mounted on their inner ends to coact with theouter side of the inner spring unit strips, said slides also havingadjustable thrust members mounted thereon to engage the inner side ofthe outer-spring unit strips adjacent the ends thereof, and means forreciprocating said forming slides.

16. In a structure of the class described,--t

outer spring unit strip and with rest members adapted to coact with theinner side of the inner spring unit strip, forming slides mounted onsaid bedplates to reciprocate transversely of the spring units andhaving forming blocks mounted on their inner ends to coact with theouter side of the inner spring unit strips, said slides also havingthrust members mounted thereon to engage the inner side of the outerstrips adjacent the ends thereof, means for reciprocating said formingslides; elevating members mounted on said bedplates adapted whenactuated to raise the spring unit above said outer forming blocks, anejector adapted to push the units from the said elevating members, andmeans for actuating said slides, said elevating members and said ejectorsuccessively. I

17 In a structure of the class described, the combination of a pair ofspaced bed plates provided with outer forming blocks adapted to coactwith the outer side of the outer spring unit strip and with rest membersadapted to coact with the inner side of the inner spring unit strip,forming slides mounted on said bedplates to reciprocate transversely ofthe spring units and having In witness whereofil'have hereunto set myhandand seal. a

.JOAOHIM HOLTFOTH. s I

